Spittoon.



. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. R. B. DOWNIE.

SPITTOON. APPLIGATION FILED 0GT.8.1907.

IN V EN tOR. Pa/ o/7 .Z. pow/71 WITNESSES.-

A TTOR NE Y.

RALPH DOWNIE, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SPI'ITOON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed October 8, 1907. Serial No. 396,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. DOWNIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spittoons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to s ittoons and the object of the invention is tl fe provision of a utensil of this character which is adapted to be used beneath a floor.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a closure for an opening'in the oor which is capable of being opened by foot pressure so as to disclose the spittoon for service but when not in use will be automatically closed. I 1

With these and'other objects-in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an underside plan view of devices embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and the floor frame in section.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 represents a frame adapted to be set in the floor of the room of a building or the like, so as to have its upper surface 10 flush, or in the same plane, w1th the upper surface of the floor. This frame has a rectangular shaped opening which is disposed centrally of its top and is desirably formed with sloping marginal surfaces 11 so as to make distances thereacross greater at the bottom than at the top. Along the front edge of said opening is an inwardly protrudingledge 12 to furnish a rigid support for the correspondin edge of the shutter 13; while the op osite edge of the latter is similarly supports upon retractile blocks 14 which are movable in depending lugs 15 of the frame. 1 Y

Plates 16 extending downwardly upon each side of the frame pivotally carry, as by a transverse rod 17, two levers, or vibratory members, 18 which are coupled, so as to move as a single piece, by a transverse rod, 18, which is positioned near to the other ends of the members from their pivotal connection.

The members 18 have their extremities 18" directed inwardly, that is, toward each same is so adapted that the members 18 in being swung downwardly from their normal position, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, to the position indicated by broken lines 18 the blocks will be thrust against opposing springs 19 toward the rear and thus release t e shutter.

Extending downwardly and rearwardly from the shutter 13 are ears 13 severally provided with an a erture 13" wherethrough the rod 18 exten s and, that the members 18 may be swung sufiiciently far to displace the blocks 14 to release the shutter before any force is given to thelatter to effect its withdrawal from the frame opening, these apertures are elongated, as shown in Fig. 2.

Near the front edge of the shutter and upon each side are lugs 20 from which protrude pins 20 extending respectively into the cam groove 21 of longitudinally arranged fixtures 21. The ofiice of the cam grooves is to bear the front end of the shutter in its movement toward the rear of the frame, as will occur when depressing the rear of the shutter in bringing it into the position indicated by broken lines 13*; and also in the return of the shutter, to close the frame opening, the groove directs the shutter upon the beneath the opening of the frame and may be held in any suitable and convenient manner, such as by hooks 25 hung from the frame.

The operation of the invention, it is thought, will be understood from the foregoing and will need no further explanation here.

Among the advantages ofthe invention may be noted,,its sanitary excellence, the out-of-the-Way position of the receptacle, and the convenient manner in which it may be used. These advantages are derived from this invention through the provision of a receptacle for expectorations which is normallyv hidden from view and devices whereby the same is readily disclosed upon occasion by a slight pressure of the users foot and immediately the foot is withdrawn the receptacle disappears from view through the automatic closing of the frame-opening by the shutter.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is

1. A floor spittoon, comprising in combination with a receptacle for liquid, a frame having an opening disposed to be above said receptacle, a shutter for closing the opening, a lever pivoted at one end to a stationary support and connected near its other end with said shutter and near one edge of the latter, a spring tending to retain the shutter in its normal closed position, s ring-pressed means slidably-connected to tfie frame for sustaining one end of the shutter and adapted to be withdrawn by the aforesaid lever when the latter is depressed to withdraw the shutter from the opening, and means for effecting such movements of the lever.

2. A floor spittoon, comprising in combination with a receptacle for liquid, a frame having an opening disposed to be above said receptacle and provided with a ledge along one edge of said opening, a shutter for closing the opening, a lever pivoted at one end to a stationary support and connected near its other end with said shutter and near one edge of the latter, a spring tending to retain the shutter in its normal closed position, a block slidably connected to the frame for sustaining one end of the shutter and adapted to be withdrawn by the aforesaid lever when the latter is depressed to withdraw the shutter from the opening, and a pedal for effecting such movement of the lever.

3. A floor spittoon, comprising in combination with a receptacle for liquid, a frame having an opening disposed to be above said receptacle and provided with a ledge along one edge of said opening, a shutter for closing the opening, a lever pivoted at one end to a stationary support and connected near its other end with said shutter and near one edge of the latter, a spring tending to retain the shutter in its normal closed position, a spring-pressed block slidably connected to t e frame for sustaining one end of the shutreceptacle, a shutter for closing the opening,

a lever pivoted at one end to a stationary support and connected near its other end with said shutter and near one edge of the latter, a stud on the shutter adjacent the edge opposite to the aforesaid edge, a guide for supporting said stud, a spring tending to retam the shutter in its normal closed position,

I s ring-pressed means slidably-connected to t 1e frame for sustaining one end of the shutter and adapted to be withdrawn by the aforesaid lever when the latter is depressed to withdraw the shutter from the opening, and means for effecting such movement of the lever.

5. A floor spittoon, comprising in combination, a receptacle for liqu1d,a frame having an opening disposed to be above said receptacle and )rovided with a ledge along one edge of sait opening, a shutter for closing the opening, a lever pivoted at one end to a stationary support and connected near its other end with said shutter and. near one edge of the latter, a stud on the shutter adjacent of the edge opposite to the aforesaid edge, a guide for supporting said stud, a spring tending to retain the shutter in its normal closed position, a spring-pressed block slidably connected to the frame for sustaining one end of the shutter and adapt ed to be withdrawn by the aforesaid lever When the latter is depressed to withdraw the shutter from the opening, and a pedal for effecting such movement of the lever.

In testimony whereof I afhx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH E. DOlVNIE.

Witnesses:

PIERRE BARNES, LEROY V. NEWCOMB. 

